Polychrome Olla with Deer Designs and Curved Triangles [SOLD]

This outstanding historic polychrome OLLA, or water jar, was made by Trinidad Medina of Zia Pueblo. The distinctive deer and plant designs that appear on the exterior are the most recognizable hallmark of Medina's work. Another telling characteristic is equally significant but not so visible—the walls are slightly thinner than those of the typical Zia piece. A beautiful patina and a pattern of visible calcium deposits confirm that the olla was used at the pueblo and suggest that it dates to the 1920s. The olla has a concave base, indicating that it was made for use. It is unsigned, but there is no doubt that it is Medina's work.

Francis H. Harlow and Dwight P. Lanmon's The Pottery of Zia Pueblo provides an interesting passage in which potter Vicentita Pino describes Trinidad Medina's method: "Pino explained that Trinidad Medina constructed her pots just as everyone else did (relatively quickly) but spent more time than any of the other Zia potters thinning them when they were in leather-hard stage. For thinning, Vicentita Pino reported that she used tuna-fish cans, opened on both ends and cut open on the side, so that the sharp edge where the lid was attached could be used as a scraper." [288]

This olla reminds us exactly why Medina's work stands in such high regard. The vessel is beautiful, with a gently rounded shoulder giving way to a soft slope up to the rim. It is well balanced and appealing from any angle. As noted above, the walls are just slightly thinner than those of the average Zia piece.

The designs are of the same exceptional quality as the vessel itself. The primary element is a deer design, which appears four times around the olla's exterior. The deer figures are—by the standards of pueblo pottery designs—quite lifelike, with careful attention given to facial features and shading. Plant designs appear, serving as vertical framing lines between each figure. Curved triangular elements rise up from the base and hang down from the red rim.

The olla's coloration and patina deserve to be noted. The red, black, and cream tones used for this piece are not out of the ordinary for Zia pottery, but there is something about these particular pigments and their combined effects that is truly remarkable. Medina outlined the deer figures in bold black, and then filled in their bodies with a gentler application of black pigment, which combined with the cream slip to form a fourth color—a gorgeous smoky gray. The olla's rich patina highlights the beauty of its form and coloration, and its visible history of use makes it even more desirable.

Pottery made by Trinidad Gachupin Medina (1883/1884-1969) SRA'EITI' is cherished by collectors of historic pottery. She was one of the greatest potters of that pueblo and was recognized as such during her lifetime. She was taken on cross-country tours to demonstrate her craft at several venues, and she won many prizes at Santa Fe Indian Market for her entries. Her sisters were Geronima Gachupin Medina and Reyes Gachupin Moquino/Pino; wife of José de la Cruz Medina; mother of San Juanito Medina; grandmother of Rafael Medina, José de La Cruz Medina, Anita Candelaria, Lena Medina, Carolina Medina, Ernest Medina, Patrick Medina, and Priscilla Medina.

"Trinidad Medina was a diminutive person, standing just over 4 feet tall according to grandchildren and others who knew her. Nonetheless, she made some of the largest storage jars ever produced at Zia. They are also considered to be some of the finest. She received prizes and widespread recognition for her work, in part because the trader Wick Miller took her on road tours around the United States between 1930 and 1946. She demonstrated pottery making at the Century of Progress Exposition in Chicago in 1933 and possibly also at the San Francisco Golden Gate International Exhibition in 1939, where at least one of her large storage jars was shown." (Harlow & Lanmon, 2003:285)

Condition: Excellent condition. Visible wear from use—light abrasions, calcium deposits

Provenance: this Polychrome Olla with Deer Designs and Curved Triangles is from a private collection

Reference: Harlow, Francis H., and Dwight P. Lanmon. The Pottery of Zia Pueblo, SAR Press, Santa Fe, 2003.